In 2019, Mr Omagbitse Barrow wrote that many Nigerians have never really thought seriously about the competencies required to be an effective legislator and using these competencies as the basis for selecting legislators and evaluating their performance.
He then said that in case you have not reflected on this before, there are five core competencies that every effective legislator should possess that are acceptable all over the world and align with toversight and legislation.
On the other hand, a foreign scholar, Ed Petrick, writing about a certain Western democracy did a piece on October 18, 2022 and asked: What are the qualities that make a good elected official or legislator? Because of his history as a two-term Governor of Akwa Ibom State, a former Minority Leader of the Senate, and a minister for four years under President Muhammadu Buhari, Akpabio was expected to have the necessary experience to lead the Senate. However, he soon learned that he needed more to be the first among equals.
Again, Akpabio’s leadership has faced allegations of manipulating the screening process for ministerial nominees. These claims suggest a disregard for due process and transparency in vetting candidates for key government positions. Such manipulation can undermine the integrity of the National Assembly and hinder its role as a check and balance on the executive branch.
Perhaps one of the most unsettling accusations of Akpabio’s leadership of the National Assembly is the alleged “romance” with the Executive arm. Such allegations raise concerns about the undue influence of external figures on the National Assembly’s leadership, potentially compromising its autonomy and integrity.
Another critical issue has been the creation of instability within the Senate through the appointment of committee leaders. By allegedly marginalizing some ranking senators in the chairmanship and vice chairmanship of influential committees, Akpabio has sowed seeds of discord among his peers. This discord can lead to inefficiency and hinder the legislative process.
Specifically, in the lead-up to an impending Senators’ retooling retreat, the Nigerian Senate was embroiled in a fresh controversy triggered by a parliamentary blunder made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Akpabio, however, staunchly rejected Ndume’s request, insisting that once issues were ruled upon, they could not be revisited. Senator Sunday Karimi attempted to support Ndume’s argument with another point of order, but both Senators were swiftly ruled out of order by Akpabio.
SERAP is seeking a court order to compel Akpabio and Abbas to revise the Supplementary Appropriation Act 2022 to reduce the National Assembly’s budget by N110 billion in line with the current economic situation. Lawmakers should exercise fiscal prudence and prioritize public funds for the betterment of their constituents. Extravagant purchases, particularly when funded by public money, should be replaced with judicious budgetary decisions.
Godswill Akpabio’s ongoing controversial tenure as Senate President has seen a plethora of accusations, discord, and allegations of misconduct. Addressing these multifaceted issues is imperative to restore the National Assembly’s reputation and ensure its role as a transparent, accountable, and independent legislative body.
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